Patents by Inventor Thomas Liepold

Thomas Liepold has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12241288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module component (100) for a movable part (201) of a vehicle (200), comprising: a support housing (10) for fastening the module component (100) to the movable part (201) of the vehicle (200), a key device (20) for actuating the movable part (201) of the vehicle (200), wherein the key device (20) comprises a key cap (21) configured to receive an activation action, in particular a touch and/or force, of a user, wherein an activation element (24) is arranged on the key cap (21) to be able to detect a presence and/or an activation action of the user, and an electronic device (30) for providing lighting functions and/or sensor functions when the movable part (201) of the vehicle (200) is actuated, wherein the electronic device (30) is fastened to the support housing (10), wherein the electronic device (30) comprises a sensor device (31, 32) for a presence detection and/or an activation action detection at the activation element (24), and wherein the electronic device (30) comprises at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ingo Bott, Andreas Beck, Florian Knubben, Andreas Hoffmann, Thomas Popp, Thomas Liepold
  • Publication number: 20250010713
    Abstract: An operating element arrangement for a motor vehicle, with an operating element and an attachment device for connecting the operating element to a body of the motor vehicle. The operating element is mounted on the attachment device so as to be displaceable along an actuation path. An adjustment device for adjusting the actuation path has a first adjustment element, a second adjustment element frictionally coupled to the first adjustment element, an adjustment element end stop for limiting the actuation path and a threaded device. The first adjustment element is mounted so as to be rotatable over a first range of rotation angles and the second adjustment element over a second range of rotation angles about a common axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: André SCHUBERT, Thomas LIEPOLD
  • Patent number: 12122223
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a body, a first vehicle door, and a second vehicle door arranged behind the first vehicle door in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The first and second vehicle doors are each movably coupled to the body such that the first and second vehicle doors are movable between a closed position and an open position in a sliding-pivoting manner. The vehicle includes at least one passive locking device that interlockingly connects one of the first and second vehicle doors to the body of the vehicle when set at the closed position to form a vehicle pillar of the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Liepold, Frank Mauersberger
  • Publication number: 20240318475
    Abstract: A locking apparatus for a front flap of a motor vehicle comprises a double-stroke lock, including a first locking element and a second locking element, to mechanically lock the front flap in a closed position and in a locked position; an unlocking element, coupled to the double-stroke lock, to unlock the first locking element by a first stroke and the second locking element by a second stroke separate from the first stroke; an actuator, coupled to the unlocking element, to move the unlocking element to unlock the first locking and the second locking element; a drive motor to drive the actuator; a first control device and a second control device to separately control the drive motor; and a changeover element to change over control of the actuator from the first control device to the second control device and vice versa based on a position of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andre SCHUBERT, Thomas LIEPOLD
  • Publication number: 20230058642
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a body, a first vehicle door, and a second vehicle door arranged behind the first vehicle door in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The first and second vehicle doors are each movably coupled to the body such that the first and second vehicle doors are movable between a closed position and an open position in a sliding-pivoting manner. The vehicle includes at least one passive locking device that interlockingly connects one of the first and second vehicle doors to the body of the vehicle when set at the closed position to form a vehicle pillar of the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas LIEPOLD, Frank MAUERSBERGER
  • Patent number: 9714532
    Abstract: In one aspect, a latch assembly is provided. The latch assembly includes a claw movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and a pawl movable between a first position and a second position. The pawl engages and holds the claw in the latched position when the pawl is in the first position, and the pawl disengages the claw for movement to the unlatched position when the pawl is in the second position. The latch assembly also includes a switch cam movable between a switch-off position and a switch-on position. The claw engages and holds the switch cam in the switch-on position when the claw is in the unlatched position, the claw releasing the switch cam for movement to the switch-off position when the claw rotates to the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: David Peatey, Thomas Liepold
  • Publication number: 20150035292
    Abstract: In one aspect, a latch assembly is provided. The latch assembly includes a claw movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and a pawl movable between a first position and a second position. The pawl engages and holds the claw in the latched position when the pawl is in the first position, and the pawl disengages the claw for movement to the unlatched position when the pawl is in the second position. The latch assembly also includes a switch cam movable between a switch-off position and a switch-on position. The claw engages and holds the switch cam in the switch-on position when the claw is in the unlatched position, the claw releasing the switch cam for movement to the switch-off position when the claw rotates to the latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: David Peatey, Thomas Liepold
  • Patent number: 8836789
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle, with a camera unit constructed to be pivoted between an active position and an inactive position, and a chamber accommodating the camera unit, wherein in the inactive position a sealing cover that seals the chamber is arranged on the camera unit, with the camera unit being inaccessible from outside, and wherein in the active position the camera unit is pivoted out of the chamber for optically capturing a surrounding area and the camera unit seals the chamber. A method for installing the camera arrangement in a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Liepold, Günther Böhm
  • Publication number: 20130182112
    Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle, with a camera unit constructed to be pivoted into an active position and into an inactive position, and a chamber accommodating the camera unit, wherein in the inactive position a sealing cover that seals the chamber is arranged on the camera unit, with the camera unit being inaccessible from outside, and wherein in the active position the camera unit is pivoted out of the chamber for optically capturing a surrounding area and the camera unit seals the chamber. A method for installing the camera arrangement in a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Liepold, Günther Böhm